The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

Three days after the Niners traded for quarterback Blaine Gabbert and offensive tackle Jonathan Martin, they are poised to sign Vikings cornerback Chris Cook to a one-year contract, the Sacramento Bee reported. …

After the oh-so-obvious first question – “How much will you pay me?” – Julian Edelman, Hakeem Nicks and any other starting-level free-agent WR should pose this to the 49ers: “How often do you use three wide-receiver formations?” …

Last year, Edelman, a 2009 seventh-round pick, ranked fourth in the NFL in receptions as he dwarfed his previous career-best numbers. Prior to 2013, Edelman had never had more than 37 catches or 359 yards in a season. …

In an 11-minute conference call with the Bay Area media Thursday, Martin, 24, repeatedly stressed he’s solely focused on his future with the 49ers, who acquired him Tuesday from Miami for a conditional 2015 seventh-round pick. The offensive tackle left the Dolphins in late October because of locker-room bullying he endured, most notably from fellow lineman Richie Incognito. …

After Seahawks free-agent wide receiver Golden Tate signed with the Lions on Wednesday he said, perhaps half-jokingly, the 49ers expressed interest in his services but he couldn’t join Seattle’s enemy. …

A hopeless case, right? Well, if you squint you can begin to see why the 49ers have some reason for hope, if not optimism. For starters, Gabbert isn’t the only highly drafted quarterback whose early trajectory was historically awful. …

\After trading for two disappointing high-end draft picks in Gabbert and Martin on Tuesday, the 49ers have their sights on another: Cook, a Vikings cornerback selected No. 34 overall in 2010, will pay a free-agent visit to the team Thursday, the Sacramento Bee reported. …

Because of offensive tackle Jonathan Martin’s role at the center of a heavily publicized locker-room bullying scandal, the focus of his trade from the Dolphins to the 49ers on Tuesday was on his off-the-field travails. …